Clawson High crowns kicker homecoming queen

Getting suited up alone in an office before meeting up with the team for a pre-game, locker room pep talk is a typical routine for Clawson High School senior Olivia Paquette.

However, worrying about whether or not she won homecoming queen while getting ready was new to her.

“I was nervous throughout the whole first half of the game,” Clawson’s kicker Paquette said. “After halftime though, my mind was back on the game.”

Paquette was crowned homecoming queen in her football uniform at Clawson City Park Oct. 11. Clawson defeated Warren Lincoln, 28-27.

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“At halftime, they brought all of the court members on the track, and after listing off the freshman, sophomore and junior courts, they announced the king and queen,” Paquette said.

“One of my sisters was home from college, and my parents and niece and nephew were there. It was really exciting for me.”

Paquette joined the football team as a kicker during her sophomore year.

“Mr. Sparks, who I had as a seventh-grade science teacher, knew I played soccer and came to one of the games my freshman year looking for a kicker,” Paquette said. “The boys couldn’t do it because they shared a season with football.”

After agreeing to join the team, Paquette was trained by Michigan State University kicker and Troy native, Kevin Muma.

“Being on the team was weird at first, but a lot of the guys on football are my friends,” Paquette said. “It’s something that took some time to get used to.”

In addition to football and soccer, Paquette is also a volleyball and violin player. She hopes to attend Albion College in the fall to play soccer, but said she is still undecided.